Success Centres
Academic help for students
Support coordinators and strategists
Online
You can book an online appointment no matter which campus you go to.
General support
Appointments are recommended, especially at busy times of year. All coordinators and strategists are available for drop-in when they are not booked. For general questions, contact OCSuccessCentres@okanaganc.bc.ca.
| Campus | Phone | Contact info | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penticton | 250-762-5445 | Sunoka Building, Room PE C13 | |
| Vernon | 250-762-5445 ext. 4928 | Next to the Auditorium in the Main Entrance | |
| Salmon Arm | 250-762-5445 ext. 8262 | Room SA 137A | |
| Kelowna | 250-762-5445 ext. 4427 | tlckelowna@okanagan.bc.ca | Library Room L204 |
| Trades Success Centre | T127A |
English & Writing Coordinators
| Campus | Coordinator | Phone | Contact info | Book appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | Michelle Burfitt | 250-762-5445 ext. 4230 | MBurfitt@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Michelle |
| Salmon Arm | Joaquim Camps | 250-762-5445 ext. 8262 | JCamps@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Joaquim |
| Kelowna | Naeem Nedaee | 250-762-5445 ext. 4461 | NNedaee@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Naeem |
| Kelowna | Karolynn Green | 250-762-5445 ext. 4694 | KGreen@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Karolynn |
| Penticton | You can book an appointment online with Joaquim, Michelle, Naeem, or Karolynn (listed above). | |||
Math & Science Coordinators
| Campus | Coordinator | Phone | Contact info | Book appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penticton | Barbara Lacy | 250-762-5445 | BLacy@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Barbara |
| Kelowna | Josh Gambier | 250-762-5445 ext.4928 | JGambier@okanagan.bc.ca | Available by drop-in |
| Kelowna | Kate Sidlar | 250-762-5445 ext. 4427 | KSidlar@okanagan.bc.ca | Available by drop-in |
| Vernon | Jason Ostoforov | 250-762-5445 ext. 8258 | JOstoforov@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Jason |
| Salmon Arm | Jason Ostoforov | 250-762-5445 ext. 8258 | JOstoforov@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Jason |
Trades Coordinators
| Campus | Coordinator | Phone | Contact info | Book appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | Elke Pritchard | 250-762-5445 ext. 4677 | EPritchard@okanagan.bc.ca | |
| Kelowna | Forough Jafari Poor | 250-762-5445 ext. 4473 | FPoor@okanagan.bc.ca |
Learning Strategists
| Campus | Coordinator | Phone | Contact info | Book appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelowna | Jim Wood | 250-762-5445 ext. 4227 | JWood@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Jim |
| Kelowna | Carolina Galaz | 250-762-5445 ext. 4352 | CGalaz@okanagan.bc.ca | Book appointment with Carolina |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee to use the services of the Success Centres?
No! Students registered in any Okanagan College course or program may access the services offered by the Success Centres at no cost.
Who are the Okanagan College Success Centre Coordinators?
The Success Centre Coordinators are experienced staff who specialize in a variety of subject areas and provide learning assistance to all students in a welcoming and safe learning environment.
Will a Success Centre Coordinator help me with a take-home exam?
Generally, no. Unless you have written authorization from your instructor that a Success Centre Coordinator can assist you with a take-home exam, the Coordinators will not be able to give you feedback.
Can the Success Centres help me with study skills or time management?
Yes! Learning Strategists are here to help you with general study skills such as note-taking, test preparation, and time management. You can make an appointment with a Learning Strategist to help with any of these skills.
What if I need help in a subject that’s not listed?
Check with your campus Success Centre to see if a Success Centre Coordinator located at another campus may be capable of assisting (virtual appointments are available). You can also email OCSuccessCentres@okanaganc.bc.ca to get more info about help in other areas such as business, computer science, human kinetics, and Spanish.
Will a Success Centre Coordinator discuss my meeting with my instructor?
No. All information, including who visited and for which courses, is considered confidential. It is up to you if you choose to tell your instructor that you used the Success Centre services.
Will a Success Centre Coordinator proofread or edit a paper for me?
No. To ensure a paper remains the exclusive work of the student's (see Okanagan College's Academic Integrity Policy), Success Centre Coordinators do not proofread or edit papers. Coordinators can assist students in developing and practicing their own proofreading and editing skills.
What will an English and Writing Success Centre Coordinator help me with?
They can help you with understanding assignment guidelines and course expectations. They can work with you to improve areas of your writing such as structure, grammar and punctuation. They can recommend valuable resources or offer new ways of thinking to facilitate understanding and promote independence.
Can I make an appointment for a group project?
If you will receive a shared mark for a group project, the Success Centre Coordinator is happy to meet with all the members of your group at the same time. However, if you have been assigned a specific section of the group project to work on individually, you may meet with the Success Centre Coordinator on your own to discuss this section. The Success Centre Coordinator will not comment on the work of individuals not present during the appointment.
Can you help me with me with a resume or cover letter?
Yes, but only if the resume or cover letter are part of your course curriculum. For general job search resources, please visit OC's Student, Grad, and Co-op Employment website.
How should I prepare for my visit.
We can make the best use of our time together if you send the assignment details and any draft writing ahead of the meeting time. Also, you should be prepared to identify specific areas of concern in your course or assignment.
How should I prepare for my visit with a Math & Science Coordinator?
Before you visit a Math & Science Coordinator, it is important that you review, and bring with you, any course material such as notes or examples from class and any assigned textbook material. Be prepared to show the work that you have done so far, and try to explain where you are getting stuck or what you do not understand about the problem.
What will a Math & Science Coordinator or Student Learning Assistant help me with?
They can help you review and apply concepts you have learned in class and offer immediate feedback as you work through a question. They can assist you in finding resources to help answer your questions when necessary, and help you build skills to become a better learner.
If I miss a class, can the Success Centre Coordinators or Student Learning Assistants help me catch up?
If you have missed a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a peer and/or meet with your instructor. Success Centre Coordinators and Student Learning Assistants cannot recreate a missed lecture for you. Once you review the notes on your own or with a classmate, a Coordinator will be happy to help you clarify any areas you have highlighted for review.
Can a Math & Science Coordinator or Student Learning Assistant check my assignment for mistakes?
While Math & Science Coordinators and Student Learning Assistants will not check over assignments for errors, solve problems, or provide answers to questions on course assignments, they will provide additional guidance and clarification. You can specify which questions you are struggling with and they can focus on those concepts. They will assist in understanding course concepts while working through examples and practice problems with you.
How much time can I spend with the Math & Science Coordinators or Student Learning Assistants for drop-ins?
The drop-in assistance is designed to help you understand a concept and then allow you to work through it on your own. You are welcome to come back multiple times if you need to. During peak periods, the time the Coordinators or Assistants are able to spend with an individual student may be limited to accommodate all students seeking assistance.
Leave us some Feedback!
Click here if you'd like to leave anonymous feedback about the services you've received at one of the Success Centres.